Mammals

Common Problems

• Cat or dog attack
• Car impact
• Mange
• Orphaned

What to do

Firstly, observe as much as you can without interference.

• Is the animal breathing?
• Is it bleeding?
• Are there any obvious broken bones?
• Can you see if it is a male or female?
• Does it have mange (poor fur covering, rash, sores)?
• If a female has been killed, is there a baby in the pouch, or nearby?

If it safe to do so,

• get the animal away from danger (away from dogs, or off the road).
• If the animal is distressed, cover it's head with a towel or light blanket. This often calms them down a little.
• Do not handle flying foxes, or insectivorous bats, as some carry a virus similar to rabies, which can be transmitted through scratches and bites.
• If it is small or in shock, and you can easily lift the animal, place it into a box, or pillow case. Be sure that you can secure the animal. It may be easy to handle if it is in shock, but they can suddenly come out of shock, becoming alert and aggressive.
• All baby mammals need to be kept warm. Temperatures in the pouch are higher than human body temperature. So keep any baby animals as warm as possible. Keeping them under your shirt is a good way of temporarily maintaining their warmth.
• Most animals are sensitive, and will react to synthetic fibres, so try to wrap babies in natural materials.
• If the animal has any open wounds, you can generally treat these with a mild antiseptic such as Betadine, or an antiseptic powder like 'medi-pulve'.
• Do NOT feed any native animals cow's milk. They need specially prepared formula. If they are dehydrated, give them water (or water with glucose / dextrose / electrolytes for energy).
• It can be difficult to treat Australian native animals, and you need to be licensed to keep them in care. So you must call NANA, or take the animal to the nearest vet as soon as possible.

Catching injured mammals

• Many mammals end up on the roadside, so whatever else you do, don't put yourself in danger. Don't park on a blind corner, or rush to help without keeping an eye on traffic.
• Injured animals don't know you are trying to help. As they can scratch and bite quite hard, you need to be careful.
• Some mammals carry pests such as fleas and ticks, and diseases such as mange. Ticks are usually not a problem to the animal. However, all of these things can affect humans, so take care, and wash thoroughly after handling any wildlife.
• Echidnas will dig in if threatened. NEVER try to dig out an echidna, as this often ends up with severed limbs or snout - from which they do not recover.
• With many animals it is best to cover them with a towel or light blanket, which makes them easier to lift and carry.
• In the majority of situations, it is best not to try to catch the animal if it is active. Best to call NANA for advice as soon as possible.

More Information

• It is illegal to keep animals from the wild as pets without permission from the National Parks & Wildlife Service.
• It is illegal to kill, harm, trap or trade any native animal (from the wild) in NSW, and strict penalties apply.
• Some animals have strange behaviour (for example most healthy echidnas blow bubbles from their snout) so if in doubt, ring NANA for advice.
• Native animals should always be returned to the general area in which they are found.
• For information on what to do about possums in the roof - click here
• For information on building a possum box - click here